ChatGPT vs Claude
Short answer: Both have free plans, so try both. Pick ChatGPT if you want all-round everyday help, writing, images and voice; pick Claude if you want writing, long documents and careful reasoning.
| ChatGPT | Claude | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | OpenAI | Anthropic |
| Free plan | Yes, free plan for everyone | Yes, free plan |
| Paid plans | Go $8/mo; Plus $20/mo (monthly only); Pro $100, $200 or $500/mo | Pro $20/mo ($17/mo billed annually); Max $100 or $200/mo |
| Best for | All-round everyday help, writing, images and voice | Writing, long documents and careful reasoning |
| Strengths | The most widely used assistant; huge range of features (voice, images, deep research, memory). | Strong at reading and rewriting long documents; paid plans include the Cowork agent mode. |
| Watch out for | Pro tiers changed several times in Sept–Oct 2026; usage limits on Free are tight. | Free plan usage limits are lower; Cowork is not on the free plan. |
| First prompt to try | I'm new to AI. Ask me 5 questions about my job and day, then suggest 3 ways you could save me time this week. | Here is an email I need to send. Make it clearer and friendlier, keep it under 120 words, and explain what you changed. |
Prices verified 2026-10-15 from official pages.